Child malnutrition a growing crisis in KL, says health minister
Kuala Lumpur – Child malnutrition in the capital is worsening with 23.4% of children under five stunted, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, LEMBAH PANTAI, WANGSA MAJU, 29 AUGUST 2026 —
Kuala Lumpur – Child malnutrition in the capital is worsening with 23.4% of children under five stunted, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
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According to a national survey, the 23.4% stunting rate in Kuala Lumpur exceeds the national average of 21.8%. Another 12.4% of children are underweight, 8% suffer wasting and 7.5% are overweight, he told the launch of an urban community feeding programme with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
The six-month programme supports children aged one to six through monthly growth monitoring, food baskets and fortnightly fresh produce. Similar initiatives already run in Lembah Pantai and Wangsa Maju. Dzulkefly said the health ministry is visiting homes to find at-risk children who avoid clinics.
“These figures are more than statistics. Behind every percentage is a child at a critical stage and a family in need,” he said. The minister warned of a double burden: undernutrition alongside overnutrition. The programme is part of efforts to meet the 2026 target of cutting national stunting to below 5%.